A new season was without doubt bringing with it new signings for Manchester City, this time even more exotic than last summer's fruits. Namely, an Ivorian, a Spaniard and an Italian, who between them have cost Abu Dhabi around £80m...

With just three games left this season, Rio Ferdinand is in danger of not even playing half the number of matches he did last season. Even his tally of 43 last year is around a dozen short of his usual exploits...

Much has been made of the importance of Wayne Rooney to England's success this summer. The need for him to play as a second striker, in the No. 10 role, where he can use his creativity and vision to good effect, is forever being underlined...

Just when Manchester United are meant to enter that invincible phase, in which they gather momentum and put a run of victories together, they have stumbled, perhaps over a rock that could have been avoided, or at least steam roller-ed over...

Van De Sar -6- Pulled off a couple of top saves, helpless for the Robben strike, but less helpful in letting Olic's finish sneak past. Rafael -6- Very good game up until the sending off soon after the break, which swung the tie...

Conjure as many conspiracies as you like. The reason behind United's relative absence in the transfer market, following the major departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and the relinquishment of Carlos Tevez, is Sir Alex Ferguson...

Arsenal & Barcelona: Arguably less cohesive than last year, with Ibrahimovic now as a primary spearhead, but the irresistable form of Lionel Messi means that Barcelona ooze confidence and are capable of scoring goals of all shapes and forms...

There was a time when we here in England simply admitted that our top flight was not on the level as that of Italy. However, having watched Italy’s archetypal fixture, the Milan derby, any fears of inferiority can surely now be completely dismissed...

The performance against Birmingham was maybe enough now to convince me, despite Ferguson's detractions, that Manchester United are not close to being the side they were last year, nor can boast the chemistry of the year before...